Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby Inc.

We are proud to announce the names of the two new teams for this year’s first Home Season (1st game in March – watch here for coming details).

Please welcome

The Vixens
captained by Janis Job’em

and

The Vipers
captained by Penny Nartsy

The home season is shaping up to be an exciting one for WIRD, lots of new players to be introduced to you all. Get excited Wollongong!

After a weekend of Derby Camp WIRD are looking forward to putting all they have learned into practice!

WIRD Would Like to Thank ERRD for organizing the camp, and a very big thanks to all the visiting coaches and referees.

Introducing your Captain Nominees for 2010….

Janis Jobem

Tracy Cyclone

Demander

Penny Natzy

As we near the final days of 2010, Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby can proudly raise a glass and toast to a very successful year.

WIRD kept audiences warm over winter with a red-hot roller derby season, kicking off with a best-of-three series against the Newcastle Dockyard Dames.

Wollongong bashed and barged their way to a 175-127 victory in the first round, but it was Newcastle that finished first in the final two series. Regardless, Wollongong had already proven to the world that they were a team to watch – or so says the Derby News Network (DNN) with positive appraisals like ‘strong core jammers’ and ‘aggressive and effective’ blocking.

The epic trip to Adelaide to compete in the Great Southern Slam: Roller Derby National Titles was, without a doubt, the biggest achievement for Wollongong this year. Not only was it a chance for leagues to flex their muscles, but it was a time for all roller derby leagues to establish themselves within the sporting arena and prove that this game is built on athleticism and intelligence.

Despite WIRD coming back with more skater injuries than wins, the Steel City Derby Dolls brought home a goodie bag filled with new found knowledge, tactics and insight into this steadily growing sport.

Always keen to share the derby love and knowledge, Sydney Roller Derby League invited Wollongong to compete in their home-season games. This included Una Batalia a la Muerta and Roller Derby Horror Show, both played at the Sydney Horden Pavillion, which gave WIRD a taste of their own success to come.

Motivated by such success – both games were sold out – Wollongong took the initiative to establish the annual East Coast Smackdown. Launched on home soil, iteams from Canberra, Sydney, Western Sydney and Newcastle battled it out against WIRD for the title of East Coast Derby Queen with Sydney taking home the gold.

The girls from Wollongong have been skating up and down the east-Australian coast all in the name of experience – all of which has proven to be invaluable.

With the 2011 season on the horizon, thus heralding new experiences and achievements, the Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby League eagerly anticipates rolling onto their next adventure.